The 2008 Gordon Research Conference on Mitochondria and Chloroplasts will assemble a broad and international group of cellular and molecular biologists and geneticists investigating a large range of fundamental problems related to the biology of these organelles in animal, plant and fungal cells. This field has witnessed an extraordinary expansion in recent years, fueled in part by the discovery of the role of mitochondria in human disease and ageing, by the identification of novel factors involved in organelle division, movement, signaling and acclimation to changing environmental conditions, and by the powerful tools of organelle proteomics. The present conference will highlight recent progress in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of organelle biogenesis including regulation of gene expression, organellar protein import, assembly and turnover of respiratory and photosynthetic complexes, bidirectional signaling between organelles and nucleus, organelle morphology and fusion/fission dynamics. We will also highlight the latest progress in mechanisms of disease and ageing/senescence in animals and plants. The organellar field is particularly exciting at this time because it has gone well beyond the descriptive phase to the point where a more detailed understanding of mitochondrial and chloroplast biology emerges at a molecular level. Many of the molecules that are being investigated in model organisms are responsible for human diseases, providing significant impetus for a meeting that encourages interactions between mammalian, fungal and plant organellar biologists. Concerning speakers we have paid attention to inviting young investigators, individuals who have never attended this conference before and female scientists. The meeting is designed to maximize participation of attendees, all of whom will be asked to present their recent progress as a poster or as a talk; none of the invited speakers have spoken at the last Gordon Conference. Moreover, this conference has been selected to have a Gordon-Kenan Graduate/Postdoctoral Seminar. which will be held before the conference. This GRS will provide an excellent platform for graduate students and postdocs to make oral presentations in standard format of the Gordon Conferences, to discuss informally their research and to gain confidence for actively participating in the following GRC.